Water-heating apparatus.



G-.-H'. GIBSON. WATER HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4,.1909.

1,014,822. JPatenbed Jan. 16,1912

nrrED s'rA'r s PATENT orrrcuf GEORGE E. GIBSON, OF MON'ICZILAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HARRISON SAFETY BOILER WORKS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COPARTNERSHIP.

WATER-HEATING APPARATUS.

T0 all-whom it may concern: I

Be it knownthat I, Gnomes H. Gmson, a

"citizen of the United States, residing at Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vater Heating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for" heating waterpand its object is to provide such an apparatus adapted for economical to a temperature'at or near 212 Fahrenheit, so that as little time as possible will be lost in preparing a locomotive for service. lVater at this temperature, however,-cannot be used by a workman in washing a boiler, but; as it is desirable to use water which has been heated somewhat in washing the.

boiler, it has been common heretofore to 'provide a supply of water at a temperature of about 130 Fahrenheit for washing.

In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus .is provided whereby the heat in exhaust steam is utilized for maintaining a supply of water at a temperature of or near 212 Fahrenheit, and whereby washing water at a temperature of about 130 Fahrenheit may,- -be obtained when required.

.The invention involves the provision of a Water-heater to which water and exhaust steam are admitted, so that the steam will heat the water, a second heater into which the water may overflow from the first heater, a passageway whereby steam may pass from the firstheater to the second, and

i a live steam'connection to the second heater, arranged to supply steam to the second heater when insuiiicient steam is supplied thereto from the first heater, valves being arranged to prevent the passage of steam from the" second heaterto the first when the pressure within th .former in excess of I that in the latter. In this way the water is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

Application filed September 4, 1909, Serial No. 516,205.

heated in the first heater by the exhaust steam admitted thereto, andafter being so heated will overflow into the second heater;

'but if at any time the supply of exhaust steam is insufiieient to raise the temperature of the water in the first heater to that which is desired for the filling water, live-steam will be admitted to the second heater, so as to raise the temperature of the water therein to this desired temperature; however, there will be no waste of this'live-steam, since it cannot flow from the second heater-into the first, and therefore-only enough will be used to maintain the temperaturedesired for the filling water.

The invention also involves the provision of a heater for heating the water which is to be employed in washing a boiler, this heater also employing exhaust steam for raising the temperature or the water passingtherethrough. In the pipe for carrying exhaust'steam to this heater for the washing water, an automatically-operated valve is provided, controlled by a thermostat mounted within the heater for the washing water or the pipe leading therefrom, so that the steam connection to this heater for the washing water will be opened only when steam is required for raising the temperature of the water in the heater to that which is desired for the water to be used in washing.

I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawing, which shows the apparatus emloyed diagrammatically.

Referring to this. drawing, a water-heater is shown at 1, adapted to employ steam for raising the temperature of the water fadmitted thereto. This heater may be of any suitable type, as, for instance, one employing means for spraying the water-into the steam, but the form which I prefer to use is that employing a. plurality of trays 2 over which the water may fall and through which the steam may rise, so as to impart its heatto the water and be partially or wholly condensed thereby. Cold water is supplied to the heater 1 by means of the pipe 3. Steam is supplied to the heater 1 by the pipe}. This steam may be the ex:- haust from any apparatus employed on the plant which exhausts steam, as, for instance, stationary engines, and also the steam ex- 10 is a float 16, which is The heater 1 is provided with an exhausti e 5 havin a ressure-reliet-valve 6 P P a g P therein, so that it the pressure within tank-1 ressure at any exceeds a predetermined time, more or less of the steam will be a1- lowed to escape to atmosphere through the i e 5. In the pipe 3 is a valve T'controlling the supply of water to the heater-1, and this valve is arranged'to be operated automatically in direct response to changes )hragm being provided at 8 connected to the movable member of 'valve 7 and the chamber on one side of this diaphragm being connected by the rior of the heater L \Vithin-the heater, the water flows downwardly overthe trays 2', is heated by the steam passing upwardly through the trays, and collects in the waterchamber at the bottom of the heater, as shown in the drawing. Y v

' A second water-heater is shown at 10. In the drawing the heater l is shownas'built within the structure of the heater 10, .and

this is the construction which I prefer. to

employ, though, if desired, the two heaters may be separate devices. \Vhen the water in the heater 1 rises therein above afcertain level, itfiows through a port 11 into the heater 10; this port 11 is provided with a;

non-return valve 12, so that the port is closed at all times except when the water is passing therethroughto the heater 10. Within the heater 10, the water'flows downwardly-overa series of trays 13 and collects'in the Waterchamber at the bottom of the heater. passageway for steam heater 10 is also pro"idcd,as shown at 14; and this passageway is also cont-rolled by ,a non-return valve 15, so that the passageway is open only when steam is passing from the heater 1 into the heater 10,- and i fjthe pressure within the heater 10 is in excess of that within the'heater 1 the valve 15 Will' b8 held firmly on its seat.- \Vithin the heater able levers 17 to the movable to the heater 1. Steam is admitted. to the heater 10 through a pipe 19,. and in this pipe is a pressure-reducing valve 20 operating in response to changes of pressure within the heater 10, so that when the pressure within the heater falls below a certain amount "the valve 20 will open and admit steam to the heater through the pipe heater 10, so that when desired water. for

the heater through this pipe. A wasteflnpe shown at of pressure within the tank 1, a flexible diasupply-pipe 4, so

pipe 9 with the inte-' from the heater ,1 .to the" connected by. suit-1 member ofa' valve 18 in the pipe 3 for supplying water, i

' ,the'trays 2 and takes, upthe heat of tin 19. 'A pipe 21 connects with the watcr-chamber withinthe 22, into which the water from heater 10 may overflow. If

desired, an oileseparator may be provided in the steam connection to the heater ,l, as indicated at 23, and a pipe 24 may lead from this separator to,the waste-pipe22,-a steamtrap '25 being inserted in this connection.

The heater for the washing water is shown at 26. This heater may construction, butthat which I preterto employ is one similar to a heater is connected by a pipe 27 ,with the cold water supply-pipe- 3, a'hand-operated valve 28 being inserted in the pipe 27.

jet-condenser. T

Steam is supplied to the heater 26 by a pipe 29, t

which is connected with the exhaust steam exhaust steam to the heater 26. In the drawing I have shown the steam-pipe 29 as connected to the top of the casing of the separator 23, but this connection may be made to the heater 1 or to the pipe t, as desired. Within the heater 26, .the steam becomes mingled with heater by th'e pipe 27, so that warm .water passes from" the heaterfi26zthrough the pipe 30. .Inorder that this water may be at the temperature xdesired, means fare employed for automatically regulating .the amount of steam supplied to the heater lationis! securedv by.the=provision of a valve 31 in the pipe 29, operated automatically .by a thermostat 26- or thepipe -30 leading therefrom,- this thermostateing connectedto the vlalve3l so as to open .the latter when the temperature otthe' water flowing through the pipe 30 falls, and to close the valvemore or less asth'e temperature-10f this' waterrises Withthe apparatusconstructed as above described, the operation is as -follows:-'

Assuming that there is no water in the heatfsl and-'10; the valve18 in the supply-pipe his as to carry a portion ofthe- 32, mounted upon ,the heater T be of any suitable the water: admitted to the- 26. v This regu- 3. w ill' be opened, and if steam is carried to the heater 1 by the pipe 4 the pressure within the heater will risesuflicient to open the valve 7 so as to admit cold .water to the top of the heater 'Itlirough the p 'reliefl-valve fi in the exhaust-pipe set *to open only upon an increaseof pressure within th h tier. 1 excess of that at "which the valve? opens; As the'water en an the heater 1, it flows downwardly over This water steam through which it'passes.

collectsinfthe water-chamber at the bottom of -th 'e lieaterf1-,.a;nd when it rises to a preipe, 3. r The 5 willbe,

in the heater ,1 rl'ses above that within the I 15 Willbe opened, so as to allow the steam to pass into the heater will 'serv to heatthe 'Water flowing down over these trays and collecting in the bot.-

and this steam surrounding the trays 13- to the h eater is insufficient to raise the ressure within the heater 10 up to such a point thatthe water collecting in the bottom of the heater '10 will be raised toa temperature of-212" Fahrenheit, the valve 20 will be operated -automatically to adm t livesteam to the heater 10 through the pipe 19,

and this steam will be condensed by the i 10 by the pipe19, however, cannot flow into water withinthe heater-10, so as'to raise the temperature of that water to the des red oint.-. 'Thesteam admitted to the heater the heater- 1, for the reason that such steam will raise the pressure within heater 10.

above-that in heater '1', and thus-close the .valves 12 and- 15 and hold them closed except when valve' 11'opens to permit water to overflow from the heater 1 into the heater 4 is insuflicie'nt'to raisezthe temperature of the wateradmittedtothe-heaterlO to the desired point-: .:'The desired;supply of water in -tank" -'1 0 will always .be -1naintained, by

, reasongobthe,provisioii'of the valve inthe 'supplyvpipe-ioperated by the float 'Wll'llllIl the beaten; .lVhen it isdesired .to wash a boiler; thelval-ve '28 is' opened, so as to admit waterto the heater 26, and as much steam will beadmitted to. this heateras is required to raise the 'temperatureof the water passing therethroughto the desired point, by reason ofthe' provision of the valve 31 in the steam-pipe 29 opera-ted automatically by the thermostat 32 in res onse to changes of the temperature of t e through the' heater 26.

Withtheapparatus constructed as above water passing described, it might sometimes happen {hat the supply'of'water in heater 10 would fall too low due to the closure of the valve 7 for an extended period during which the steam supplied through pipe 4 was insuiiieient 'to cause valve 7 .to be opened. 1 have therefore provided means for insuring a constant supply of water in heater 10. A pipe is shown at 33 connecting the water supply pipe3' with the heater 10, the connection to pipe being effected at a point between the valves 18 and the connection to the heater being such that the water passing through pipe 33 will fall upon the 'trays 13. In the pipe 33 is an'automatic valve 34 open-- ing in responseto the pressure of the water thereon, this valve being loaded suiliciently to keep itelosed when the valve 7 is open. Now, if the level of water in heater l0 falls,

valve 18 will open and the pressure. within heater 1 should open valve 7 so as to utilize exhaust steam in heating the water .flowing through pipe 3; but if valve 7 is not opened, the water in pipe 3will open valve 34 and it will continue to do so'until either valve 7 is opened or valve 18 is closed. I have also shown an exhaust pipe 35 connecting the heater 10 to the main exhaust pipe '5 a heater 10. bince it may be desired to draw washlng water at a time when no exhaust steam is flowing in pipe 4, I have provided a pipe 37 connecting the live steam pipe 19 to the pipe 29, a valve being inserted thereinat 38; this valve is a pressure-reducing valve and is set to correspond to a temperature of approximately 120 F. If washing water is drawn from the heater 26 and sufiicient steam is notsupplied to the heater from the pipe 4 through pipe 29, valve .38 will opcrate automatically to admit suflicient live steam to pipe 29 and heater 26 to effect the desired heating of the water.

Having described my invention what I claim as new thereinand desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis: v

1. The combination of a heater, a pipe for carrying water thereto, means for carryingsteam to the heater to heat the water therein, a valve in said water pipe operating automatically in response to predeteia mined conditions of steam within the heater,

a second heater, a connection through which water may pass from the first heater to the second, means for admitting steam to the second heater automatically under predetermined conditions to heat the water therein and means for automatically precluding the passage of steam admitted to the second heater from that heater to the first heater, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a heater, a pipe for carrying water thereto, means for carrying steam to theheat-er to heat the water therein, a valve in said water pipe operating automatically in response to predetermined conditions of steam within the heater, a second heater, :1 connection through which water may pass from the first heater to the second, means for admitting steam to the second heater to heat the watertherein, means for automatically precluding the. passage of steam admitted ,to the second heater from that heater to the first heater and means for supplying fresh water to the termincd conditions from a source other than the first heater, substantially as set 70 flow through the pipe 33 into heater 10 and l8 valve 36 being prov ded therein, in or er v to guard against an excessive pressure min, a valve in said water-pipe responsive to" predetermined condition of'steain within the heater, a second heater, a connection through. which, water may pass from the first heater to the second, a float-controlled valve-in said.

water-pipe, a connection from said second heater to said water-pipe at a point in the latter between the fioat-controlled valve and the first heater,' and means foradmitting steam to the second heater to heat the water therein, substantially as set forth.

The combination of a heater. a pipe for carrying water thereto, means for carryin steam to the heater to heat the .Water therein,- a valve in said water pipe responsive to predetermined condition ofsteam withinthe l'ieater, a second heater, a connection through which water may pass from the first heater to the second, a connection through which'stea n may pass from the first heater to the second, a non-return valvein said steam connection, a'fioat controlled valve in said water p-ipe, a connection from said second heater to said water-pipe at -a point .in the latter between the. fioat con-fx trol led valve and the first heater, and a steampipe for admittingsteam to the second heater to heat the water therein. substa'n tially as set forth; i

to prevent the passage ofsteam from'the second heater to the first heater, asteampi'pe connected to said second heater, a float 111' said second heater, a valve in said water-" pipe controlled by said float, a second valve in saidwater-pipebetween .said float-controlled valve and the first heater and re-" sponsi've to changes of conditions within the first heater, and a pipe leading to the end heater from a point in said water-pipe between the two said valves therein, sub-J stantially as set forth. 1

3. The combination of a heater,a pipe for heater, means -,for carrying steam from the water to overflow from the first heater to the. se'cond, said means automatically precludingthe passage of steam and water: vfrom the second heater to the first, and means for admitting stea'mto the second. heater automatically under predetermined conditions" to heat the water therein, substantially as set forth.

7. The combin tion of a heater, a pipe for carrying water thereto, means forv carrying steam to the heater'to heat the water therein,

"avalve-in said water-pipe, a second heater,

means for carrying steam from the first heater to the second-and for allowing water to overflow from the first heater to the sec 'ond, said means automatically precluding the passage of steam-and water from the second heater tothe "first, a live-steam connection tothe'second heater andapressurecarrying water thereto, means for carrying:

steam to the heater to heat the water there: in, a valve 'in said Water-pipe, a second first heater to-the second and for allowing' a reducing valve therein, substantially as 'set' forth;

8. The'comhination of a heater, a pipe for 'carrying'water thereto, means for carry ng steam to-tlrejh'eater to heat the water, a sec /ond heater, a connection between the heaters so that the water may flow from the first into the second; a connection through which steam maypa'ss f noin the first to the second heater, an autqmatically non-return valw. '111' each of saldtonnectlons, means for auto-- matically admitting steam to the second heater when the pressure therein falls below aredetermined'point, and means for admitting waterj'tog-the second heater from a. source other their-the, first heater operatmg automatically under predetermined conditions, substantially as selfforth.

This specification signed fand witnessed this 20th day of August, 1909,

- GEORGE H, GIBSON Witnesses D. -S. Elmolv bsg' HEN- r MEYER. 

